Why are we fixated on ‘effortless’ interiors?

A cursory glance at any of the social media platforms is bound to bring up at least one mention of an ‘effortless interior’ or of the ‘effortless chic/style/elegance’ of a room. The same when flicking  through interior design magazines – there’s that slippery ‘effortless’ word again.  It’s sold to us as aspirational, touted by interior designers as their secret sauce.  But what does it mean? And why is it so popular?

Defining ‘effortless’ interiors

I think a lot of people would describe an effortless interior as a space that is inviting, one that encourages you to relax – perhaps a soft cream linen sofa with a wool throw over the arm, a well-thumbed book casually open on the spacious ottoman in front, sunlight streaming through French-doors beyond, with billowing sheer curtains. It’s a welcoming room that seems to just ‘happen’, and in its own casual laissez-faire, encourages you as the occupant to be the same.

But ask an interior designer what they mean by effortless and they’ll start listing off various design ingredients, choices and rules – ah, so this isn’t just happening, it’s now structured around numerous intentional decisions, purchases and guidelines.  Are you spotting the paradox? How about the contradiction (my emphases) in this designer’s comment I just read in an article on ‘effortless’ style: “Mismatch things and don’t worry about it, as long as you ensure to have the scale and form of your furnishings in order, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a fabric clash.” Now, rather than just seeing the metaphorical swan gliding along serenely, we’re thinking of the feet furiously paddling beneath.

That list of ingredients by interior designers contains, amongst others:

• A relaxed, organic aesthetic
• Understated luxury — nothing shouty, brash or ostentatious
• A space that feels serene, uncluttered, and lived-in
• Collections that have evolved over time (not imported wholesale in a weekend)

In another article on this subject I saw a huge coffee table on which were eleven artfully and diligently arranged low piles of books, along with a bowl of pomegranates. This feels contradictory to me: the books themselves encourage reading, which is a wonderful way to spend some time. But I bet my bottom dollar that the owner of said room is going to carefully align those piles again at the end of the day. What an effort! And heaven forbid a guest should grab a pomegranate and just bite into it – juice and mess everywhere. So these too have become artifice and pretension.

A gazillion scatter cushions to arrange (I never karate chop them) does not make for effortless living.

Which design choices create the effortless look?

Perhaps it’s easier to look at what’s going on behind the scenes. By this I mean like the ‘back of house’ in a stately home – the working choices that create the impression of ease out front.

Storage

– Ideally built in, perhaps hidden, but generally copious places into which you can sweep the detritus of everyday or family living and close the door/lid on it.

Lighting

– Not just a mid-ceiling pendant light here, we’re talking multiple heights, multiple circuits, definitely dimmers, and a mix of discrete lighting with a few fittings that are beautiful features in and of themselves.

Practical, hardworking materials

– Ideally which don’t need masses of maintenance: stone floors, bronze fittings, vintage wood. Materials you don’t have to be precious about.

Add to that tactile materials

– I was going to put leather in the practical materials section, but recoiling from a cold leather sofa in winter is not conducive to effortless comfort. So tactile materials should be lovely under bare feet, soft to sit on with bare legs, and inviting to stroke or hold. Ceramic mugs, wool or silk-mix rugs, linen. Notice these are all natural.

Symmetry

– Whilst we might think this creates formal (read stuffy) rooms, actually symmetry is restful for the eye and induces calm in our order-seeking brains. Bookcases either side of a chimney breast, two armchairs opposite a sofa that are placed equidistant from an imaginary mid-line down the room. Simply pairing things (not necessarily matched) can create this sense of ease.

For some, effortless living is the ease of dressing in a well organised, functioning and illuminated walk-in wardrobe/closet.

Why do we want effortless interiors?

This is where things get interesting — and perhaps a little uncomfortable.

The desire for effortless interiors often mirrors a broader cultural pressure: the pressure to appear as if we’re holding everything together without visible struggle. It’s the domestic equivalent of the “effortlessly chic” woman — well-dressed, perfectly manicured, successful, but never trying too hard.

Fashion and interiors are useful comparisons, and I found an article on the delightfully lyrical Italian term sprezzatura, which loosely translates as ‘studied carelessness’. Various Italian fashion leaders commented in this article, one saying “sprezzatura is the power of relaxation. It’s the total absence of the fear of judgement, and is demonstrated when you — not intentionally — but casually break certain rules of dressing.”

Whilst that sounds great, nearly all the quoted designers went on to say this style is innate, something that cannot be learned, and becomes a pastiche if emulated.  Suddenly it’s all feeling very elitist, very much for the ‘gifted’ few.

And this is the danger for the interior design application of effortless style. We risk it becoming focused on social signalling – spaces created to suggest (never shout) ease and order, showcasing inauthentic perfection that mask the stress and effort beneath.

However I think we can steer away from this unpalatable view if we instead focus on the function of effortless design. When we go back to that list above of the ‘behind the scenes’ design factors, we see that they focus on design that enhances every day living. Well organised storage makes cooking easier or school-run exits faster. Hardworking materials require less or faster cleaning, or encourage us to welcome rather than fight their worn patina.

I’m not going to tell you how to ‘get’ the look.

But nothing in life is effortless – we’d surely be vegetables if we put in no effort at all. So let’s remember this is about spaces that enhance our daily living rather than tripping it up.

As an interior designer I definitely see that our profession can assist clients with elements that will support ‘less effortful’ living – the space planning, the knowledge of materials, and taking on the pain of the literally hundreds of choices and decisions during a renovation (see my post on “Why Can’t I Just Pick One?” The Stress of Too Much Choice.)

But I would also encourage my clients’ design choices to be based on their distinct personalities – which are  themselves the result of emotions, memories, upbringings, life choices. Because effortless design should be based around you, and true to your lifestyle. It should, above all things, be authentic.

Maybe it’s time we stopped chasing the illusion of effortlessness — and started designing for the reality of living.